The day started well for me, at home, looking for a book to read on the long busride to The Bike, and found the latest Robin Paige mystery that I have yet to read, and at the same time, noticed that I hadn't finished the previous one, so, I picked that up too.

I finished that one about the time the bus dropped me at the corner of Eastern and Florence, which is a short block away from the main entrance of The Bicycle Casino located in Bell Gardens California, and the site of the Legends of Poker WPT tour event every year. This tournament was named after Doyle Brunson, who won the event two years ago, and I was hoping to see him there, as all past Legends winners were invited to attend as well. The part I missed was the fact that it was all past winners of any Legends event, so, the only face I recognized in the tourney itself was Mel Judah, whom I spied in the high roller section earlier.

When I arrived, I walked around, got my bearings, and found out I was an hour early for check in, so, I picked up the latest issue of Card Player with Jamie Gold on the cover, as well as the latest issue of Poker Player.

I read this newspaper cover to cover, starting with Mike Caro's current strategy article, and finishing up with John Vorhaus' column, which usually appears on the last page before the full page ads on the inside and outside back cover. It was an interesting read, as always, made even more interesting, when he sat down at my table at the start of the event. We got to talking about it, and he even asked me for contact info, which was cool.

As for the tournament itself, it did not go well for me. In addition to John, Jennifer Newell of American Poker Player magazine was seated two seats to his left. Two other media types were at our table as well, along with five no name winners of previous Legends events over the past ten years, filling out our table of ten.

The first hand, I was deal AQo, and mentioned that I never liked playing the first hand, although, after John and another called, and a really blank flop, my continuation bet took down the pot. If only they were all that easy.

I played a few more pots before the hand that took me out of the tournament. I say took me out, as I didn't bust out, however, this left me shortstacked, which is never a good place to be. In those previous pots, I picked up a straight on the river in one of them. I was head to head with one of the aforementioned Legends, so I felt pretty good at that point. Had another pot that I took down with a 'check in the dark,' a play I use on occasion. John remarked that it's the most powerful play in poker, although, I'm not sure if he was being sarcastic or not.

So, I'm under the gun, and after my usual remark of, 'I'm first to act? I'm not an actor, I'm a movie star!!!' I look down and find pocket Kings. I come in for my standard raise, and Jennifer calls. Three folds to the Big Blind, who promptly moves all in.

'Time.' I call, and immediately go into the tank. I put Jennifer on AK, which I find out she indeed had after the hand played out. It's at this point that I got myself into trouble, and over thought the situation. Knowing the odds that if she has an Ace, there's no other player at the ten handed table with one Ace is 25% much less two, I call.

And immediately regret my decision. Mr no name Legend Big Blind did indeed have pocket Aces. Fortunately, I had him covered, but unfortunately, not by much. This put me on the short stack at the table, and I found out after the break, that I was the short stack in the tournament as well. I did manage to win another pot that got me back to around what I started with, but with the blinds at 200/400, that didn't last too long. Found a hand that I liked, and even got two pair on the turn, however, that filled out the guy's straight, and I busted out around 60th out of an original field of over 120.

You can decide whether or not I didn't embarass myself too severely. I did manage to last longer than John, who had busted out several hands before

72 and sunny in Redondo Beach.

Next time, I'll write about poker. Be there. Aloha.

Mike "Matches" Malone

Editor's note: Matches Malone has been writing for us for a couple years now, and you can read his blog notes at PokerAllStar.com

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